Can you get sick from sleeping with wet hair? Read this

Has your mom told you not to sleep with wet hair because you might catch a cold or get sick?

Well, it's not true. Dr. Chirag Shah, MD, a board-certified emergency physician and cofounder of Push Health said that there is no evidence that we can catch a cold from going to bed with wet hair.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people don't get colds from being exposed to cold environments but rather than being infected with cold-causing viruses.

Health experts stressed that there is no scientific basis that shows the correlation between the common cold and having wet hair.

Scientific reasons why you should not sleep with wet hair, according to a study:

• Hair breakage – A study posted on National Institutes of Health showed that the environment and excessive grooming and going outside can cause hair breakage or damage. Also sleeping with wet hair can cause damage to follicles and as a result, it can cause hair damage.

• Fungal infections – Sleeping with wet hair can create big chances for you to develop fungal infections on your scalp. Dr. Shah said that "fungi, such as Malassezia, can lead to conditions like dandruff or dermatitis."

• Skin conditions – Wet hairs harbor bacteria and the growth of bacteria in pores can cause acne. This can happen especially if you leave your hair wet overnight.

Things to consider if sleeping with wet hair, according to Healthline and MedicalNewsToday:

1. Use conditioner – conditioner helps in protecting hair cuticle and lessen friction from our pillow case and it can make hair easier to detangle.

2. Wash hair less – you may try to wash your hair every other day to lessen the times that you will lie on a damp pillow. Take note that drying your hair with a heat-based tool such as a hair blower on a regular basis can cause damage to your hair.

3. Wash your hair earlier – try to schedule everything. Make sure that you wash your hair earlier before you go to bed. This can lessen the chances of creating an environment for fungus to grow.

4. Use a silk pillow – While there is no evidence that shows using a silk pillowcase is good for the skin, the middle surface can help in reducing damage to your hair if you sleep with hair wet – or dry, for that matter.

5. Apply coconut oil to your hair- according to a study posted on National Institutes of Health, it showed that coconut oil can protect wet hair from being damaged. The oil reduces the amount of water absorbed so it's less prone to damage. However, people who have seborrheic eczema are not allowed to use it since coconut oil could make it worse.

While sleeping with wet hair cannot make you sick, there are still disadvantages that you need to look into since it can cause hair breakage and increase the chances of you developing skin conditions. So as much as possible try to avoid sleeping with wet hair to have healthy and silky hair. (KBAPI)